Wilko for Lions?

The Toulon fly-half, 33, retired from international rugby with England in December and has recently been touted for a coaching role with the Lions.

But Gatland insists Wilkinson, who has won two Lions caps, may travel as a player if he is fit and in form.

The New Zealander, confirmed as Lions boss last week, admitted appointing Wilkinson as a kicking coach may be an option, but refused to rule out taking him to Australia as a player.

"For me, everyone is in contention," Gatland added. "The slate is clean for every player who wants to be considered.

"No one is ruled out or pencilled in. If you are playing well enough, then whoever it is - whether it is Jonny Wilkinson or whoever, it's all about how players are performing for their clubs or countries.

"We've selected players who have been playing well just for their club sides and have done well for the Lions. They don't have to be playing for their countries.

"What is important if they are not playing international rugby is that they have to be coming from a side that is performing particularly well."

I suggested it a while ago on maestegmafia's thread but I don't think anyone took me seriously. Why not? He is certainly a lot better than the fly-halves in Wales and England right now.

Morg

Really? You want him standing 5 yards behind roberts? Or kicking at goal over 1/2p?

I'm not sure I follow you there.

Morgannwg wrote:I'm not sure I follow you there.

Wilkinson stands very deep, which would not work with centres who like to come on to flat ball, while his goal kicking percentages are no longer terribly good.

that I think is what Bluesman is talking about.

Wilko wilko wilko.

Lets face it there isn't much competition for the No10 shirt.

Why not Wilko as cover?

HERSH wrote:Wilko wilko wilko.

Lets face it there isn't much competition for the No10 shirt.

Why not Wilko as cover?

Because there are at least half a dozen better options.

Tiger

My point exactly, with the likes of Roberts, Davies and Tuilagi in the centres chasing bombs and deep kicks is not ideal, and their crash lines would have to be from 50 yards back!!!

I haven't watched Toulon lately so can't comment. But surely it is quite simple for the Lions coaches to instruct him not to stand so deep. I can't see where the half of dozen better options are. The way I see it, only Sexton is a definite tourist.

Laidlaw is all but there too!

thebluesmancometh wrote:Laidlaw is all but there too!

Assuming of course he is Edinburgh's first choice at 10 by the end of the season.

He'll be first choice 10 at club and national I think, and his versatility is very usefull too.

I'd take him over any Sh options alongside Phillips at this point. One other of Youngs, Care, Blair, Cussiter, Dickson, Murray, Reddan and Knoyle to prove they deserve to travel.

thebluesmancometh wrote:Laidlaw is all but there too!

If the Lions want to win then no

Tell that to the Blues, and the Scots SH opponents.

He doesn't have the goods as far as i'm concerned.
I would be happy with Wilko being picked ahead of him if he's in good form for Toulon, he's plays flat for them, it's only when he played for England (in his later years) that he stood deep for some reason.

gowales wrote:He doesn't have the goods as far as i'm concerned.
I would be happy with Wilko being picked ahead of him if he's in good form for Toulon, he's plays flat for them, it's only when he played for England (in his later years) that he stood deep for some reason.

We must watch different Toulon matches.

Well from what i've seen he stands a lot flatter than when he played for England, especially when they had Sonny Bill. If he had the potential Lions backline outside him with the likes of Roberts, North etc. then i think he would have confidence standing flatter.

Think about it do we need an attacking 10 to beat Australia with the limited time the squad will have anyway? Maybe a simple game plan would work well. Wouldn't an experienced kicking option in the squad be handy?

I'm not saying that i think he should be picked, but i could see why Gatland would if he was in form.

Wilko? Wow, that's from left field. Never would have thought it before today. I suppose the Aussies would be happy if he stayed home, eh?

I wonder whether Gatland is serious or not. Could he be playing the Jonny card to incentivise (ie. light a candle under the bums of) the other candidates for out half?

But more I think about it, it makes sense to keep him in the thinking, as long as he is playing very well. We really don't have any out halves who are super terrific at the moment in the NH, although some good ones. Maybe things improve over the season.

I saw four Toulon matches last season, three in Toulon and one on Paris. Wilkinson did play flatter than in his later years in England. But it does help to keep in mind the 10 plays where the coach tells him to based upon the game plan, as do all players. If Toulon wants to attack through the backs, he plays flatter. When they want to play kick and chase he stands deeper.

Read the article: Gatland said that he had not ruled out taking Wilinson as a player. He did not say that he is thinking of taking him as a player. Every qualified player playing at the top level is currently a possible Lion, but as with Wilkinson, most of them will not make the tour.

Sexton is currently favourite for the 10 jersey, with probably at least 6 players including Flood, Preistland and Laidlaw chasing the other squad places.

Morgannwg wrote:I suggested it a while ago on maestegmafia's thread but I don't think anyone took me seriously. Why not? He is certainly a lot better than the fly-halves in Wales and England right now.

Yes I agree and say this already. For whatever, JW is still the best and most experienced international 10 in Europe. He must go as a player if they have any chance.

Morgannwg wrote:I suggested it a while ago on maestegmafia's thread but I don't think anyone took me seriously. Why not? He is certainly a lot better than the fly-halves in Wales and England right now.

Yup suggested it a while back too. He'll be there, sure as night follows day

Hes injured , again

Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote:Hes injured , again

Also, Toulon started to play much better when he went off and was replaced by Michalak.

One thing is for sure...the next 9 months will be colourful if Gats carries on on the WUM. Next thing he'll be saying Henson is in the mix.....

Stevie J could even be in contention

Nicky Robinson is keeping Wellies out of the Wasps team.

Eh? I thought he was out injured

I see this as a bit of a non-story personally. WG has already said he'll pick players bases on form only, and JW's stint in south France seems to be agreeing with him looking at his form for Toulon.

Headline could just easily have read 'Gatland to pick Henson' or a myriad of other 'big name' players. He'll pick based on form without bias of that i'm sure. This is just another example of rubbish BBC reporting looking to go for the spinned and hyped up headline.

.... After reading some of the replies to that excuse for a blog i'm glad i get my rugby fix here though!

Do you think he will still consider Shane Williams?

The 3 stand-offs will of course be Wilkinson, Henson and Cipriani. This would, of course, cause the headline writers to explode into tiny fragments as the enormity of their task became apparent.

anotherworldofpain wrote:Do you think he will still consider Shane Williams?

No. And I can tell you Shane wouldn't consider it. I'd rather take North, Cuthbert and Visser. Each of them are in try-scoring form at the moment.

If hes on form and fit then why not?

Though as he's with Toulon he could get caught up like Jenkins and either not go or more likely (will he really leave top players behind) join tour late.

The bigger story is that he also mentioned Mike Tindall as a possible tourist!!

anotherworldofpain wrote:Do you think he will still consider Shane Williams?

Thats what I was thinking, testing the water of people's opinion of draggin a players out of retirement before bringing Shane in for his Final Goodbye, and his, gentlemans agreement, try at the end of the last teast to win the seires.

Being serious I guess if Wilko is playing well then why not. I know none of the welsh fly halves are playing well at the moment.

Part of report said there might also be a coaching role for him, kicking coach I presume?

red_stag wrote:The bigger story is that he also mentioned Mike Tindall as a possible tourist!!

Given that there's no stand-out NH fly-half Jonny might be in with a shot. It's not really an area of strength at the moment.

I think Sexton and Priestland are the standout 10s followed by Flood but all 3 have question marks over their place kicking and/or big match temperament. Farrell just isn't good enough imo, nor are the Scottish 10s.

Halfpenny is a proven test place kicker but isn't a guaranteed starter in the back 3.

Therefore it makes sense to take Wilkinson or O'Gara as a 3rd choice 10 imo for their experience and nerve. As Wilkinson is in better form than ROG then he'd be on the plane for me if hes fit and on form.

rodders, I'd say Sexton is slightly out in front at the mo with Flood probably second. Really haven't been impressed with Priestland for a quite a while now.

[quote="ScarletSpiderman"]

anotherworldofpain wrote:Being serious I guess if Wilko is playing well then why not. I know none of the welsh fly halves are playing well at the moment.

Aled Thomas!!!

Fair enough but the point stands there are question marks around all 3 to varying degrees. I'm a big fan of Sexton but his place kicking can let him down at times. Flood is very talented but I've seen him crumble a few times.

Rodders - did you see Priestland playing this weekend? He was good with ball in hand, and not too bad kicking from hand, but he was dire with his goal kicking. Also he did with 80 on the clock, and the ball in his hands he booted it down the centre of hte pitch instead of into touch. He needs to improve before he can think about hte lions.

[quote="Smirnoffpriest"]

ScarletSpiderman wrote:

anotherworldofpain wrote:Being serious I guess if Wilko is playing well then why not. I know none of the welsh fly halves are playing well at the moment.

Aled Thomas!!!

Yeah but he never picks up his kicking tee, he always leaves in for someone else to come and pick up.

[quote="ScarletSpiderman"]

Smirnoffpriest wrote:

ScarletSpiderman wrote:

anotherworldofpain wrote:Being serious I guess if Wilko is playing well then why not. I know none of the welsh fly halves are playing well at the moment.

Aled Thomas!!!

Yeah but he never picks up his kicking tee, he always leaves in for someone else to come and pick up.

Well Gats would want a role for Neil Jenkins...

There are still people who think kicking aimlessly down the centre is a choice a bad player makes rather than suggestions and directions given by the strategists in training.

If Priestland's coach doesn't want him kicking down the centre he'd be man enough to tell him - stop kicking it down field and back straight at our opponents, kick it into touch if under pressure.

A coach doesn't sit looking at a player choose bad decisions over and over unless he's already given the nod that it's okay.

Could we possibly see:

10 - Wilkinson
12 - Henson
13 - O'Driscoll

Only 8 years late.

SecretFly wrote:There are still people who think kicking aimlessly down the centre is a choice a bad player makes rather than suggestions and directions given by the strategists in training.

If Priestland's coach doesn't want him kicking down the centre he'd be man enough to tell him - stop kicking it down field and back straight at our opponents, kick it into touch if under pressure.

A coach doesn't sit looking at a player choose bad decisions over and over unless he's already given the nod that it's okay.

When the clock game is over kicking it straight down feild is not an option a good player makes, especially when you are only a few points up. In Aus it was a different matter, but against Glasgow it was the wrong decision, just dropping the ball 'incidently' would have been a better option. He is the best all round fly half at the Scarlets, so his iffy moments will not cost him his place there, and he is probably the bet option at fly half that wales have, so again he will most likely keep his shirt there too. However that does not make him Lions test flyhalf material.

reallybored wrote:Could we possibly see:

10 - Wilkinson
12 - Henson
13 - O'Driscoll

Only 8 years late.

Scarlet no didn't see your game at the weekend but that sits with what I'd expect from Priestland. Thats why I feel the door is open for Wilko.

Personally I'd take Sexton, Flood/Priestland and Wilkinson.

I think Wilko will only go if he has a shout at the starting Test No10 shirt, not as a midweek squad member.

He has nothing to prove on the International stage IMO.

ScarletSpiderman wrote:

SecretFly wrote:There are still people who think kicking aimlessly down the centre is a choice a bad player makes rather than suggestions and directions given by the strategists in training.

If Priestland's coach doesn't want him kicking down the centre he'd be man enough to tell him - stop kicking it down field and back straight at our opponents, kick it into touch if under pressure.

A coach doesn't sit looking at a player choose bad decisions over and over unless he's already given the nod that it's okay.

When the clock game is over kicking it straight down feild is not an option a good player makes, especially when you are only a few points up. In Aus it was a different matter, but against Glasgow it was the wrong decision, just dropping the ball 'incidently' would have been a better option. He is the best all round fly half at the Scarlets, so his iffy moments will not cost him his place there, and he is probably the bet option at fly half that wales have, so again he will most likely keep his shirt there too. However that does not make him Lions test flyhalf material.

I still say though that coaches see everything you see - what you would say to him in the dressing room or on the training field, he'd be hearing from pretty vexed and animated coaches - IF they were having problems with his match day choices. If a player keeps committing an offence against good decision making then you can be absolutely certain his coaches aren't talking about it to him. Coaching problem - player needs direction to cut out bad habits - isn't getting it - coaching problem.